Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-08

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The table below gives information about the five small companies in Britain that came top in a survey of staff conducted by a national newspaper to find out which companies are the best to work for.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

THE FIVE BEST SMALL COMPANIES TO WORK FOR

Student answer (Band 8.0)

The table presents data on the five highest-ranked small companies in Britain, based on a staff survey conducted by a national newspaper to determine the most desirable workplaces. It compares the companies according to employee numbers, gender distribution, age profile, staff turnover and the proportion of workers in the high-income bracket.

Overall, the fifth-ranked company employed considerably more people than the other four and had the youngest workforce, as well as the highest staff turnover. By contrast, the first-ranked company had the smallest workforce and the lowest turnover. The third company stood out for having by far the largest proportion of employees earning high incomes.

In terms of workforce size, the number of employees ranged from just 56 in the first company to 190 in the fifth. Women constituted the majority of staff in every company, with their proportion reaching a particularly high 87% in the fourth company. The fifth company had the youngest workforce, with 93% of its employees aged under 35, whereas this figure was only 26% in the fourth company. Moreover, none of the employees in the first, third or fifth companies were over 55, compared with 8% in the fourth.

Staff turnover varied substantially, from only 5% in the first company to 33% in the fifth. Finally, the third company had the highest proportion of employees in the high-income bracket, at 74%, while the corresponding figure for the fifth company was just 2%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent and fully addresses all requirements of the task. You have successfully identified the main features of the data, such as the contrast between the first and fifth companies regarding size and turnover, and the notable outlier in the third company regarding high-income earners. The information is well-selected, and the comparisons are accurate and relevant. You have provided a clear overview and supported your points with specific data from the table, ensuring that the reader gets a comprehensive summary of the key trends without unnecessary detail. This meets the criteria for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Your writing is logically organized and flows smoothly. The introduction clearly states the purpose of the report, and the overview paragraph provides a strong summary of the main trends. Each subsequent paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the data, which makes the information easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'In terms of', and 'Moreover' effectively to link ideas and create a natural progression. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different categories of information, contributing to the overall clarity of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is used with precision. Phrases such as 'gender distribution', 'age profile', 'staff turnover', and 'high-income bracket' are used accurately and in the correct context. You avoid repetition by using varied synonyms and structures to describe the data, such as 'constituted the majority', 'ranged from', and 'corresponding figure'. The language is sophisticated and natural, showing a high level of control over academic vocabulary appropriate for this type of task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences, with a high degree of accuracy. You use comparative structures effectively, such as 'considerably more people than' and 'the smallest workforce and the lowest turnover'. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent. The writing is polished and demonstrates a strong command of English grammar.

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